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Rapidly vs Gradually - What's the difference?

rapidly | gradually |

As adverbs the difference between rapidly and gradually

is that rapidly is with speed; in a rapid manner while gradually is in a gradual manner; making slow progress; slowly.

rapidly

English

Adverb

(en adverb)
  • With speed; in a rapid manner.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=5 , passage=We expressed our readiness, and in ten minutes were in the station wagon, rolling rapidly down the long drive, for it was then after nine. We passed on the way the van of the guests from Asquith.}}
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-20, volume=408, issue=8845, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= The attack of the MOOCs , passage=Since the launch early last year of […] two Silicon Valley start-ups offering free education through MOOCs, massive open online courses, the ivory towers of academia have been shaken to their foundations. University brands built in some cases over centuries have been forced to contemplate the possibility that information technology will rapidly make their existing business model obsolete.}}

    Synonyms

    * (with speed) quickly, speedily * See also

    gradually

    English

    Adverb

    (-)
  • In a gradual manner; making slow progress; slowly.
  • (obsolete) by degrees
  • Human reason doth not only gradually , but specifically, differ from the fantastic reason of brutes. — Grew.